'Prometheus 2' is to be called 'Alien: Paradise Lost'.

Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott

Director Ridley Scott has announced the upcoming sequel to the 2012 sci-fi horror will have a closer connection to the original 'Alien' franchise.

Speaking to HeyUGuys.co.uk, he said: "It's going to be 'Alien: Paradise Lost', so 'Prometheus 2' is not really going to be [what it's called].

"It's a book, 'Paradise Lost' ... it sounds intellectual, there's a similarity to it, but that's where it stops."

Quizzed about the title's relevance to the prequel film and the earlier films starring Sigourney Weaver, Scott added: "We'll go back to how, why and when the beast was invented. We'll go into the backdoor of the first 'Alien' I did 30 years ago."

'Prometheus' starred Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron, and took over $400 million at the worldwide box office.

The legendary filmmaker recently revealed that he has plans to make at least three more 'Prometheus' films, connecting the bridge between the new films and the earlier films.

The original 'Alien' was released in 1979, followed by 1986's 'Aliens' - directed by James Cameron - and 1993's 'Alien 3', helmed by David Fincher. Sigourney Weaver's famous heroine Ellen Ripley was last seen on the big screen in the critically panned 'Alien: Resurrection' in 1997.

Earlier this year, plans for 'Alien 5' were announced when director Neill Blomkamp revealed he'd be taking over the series. Weaver - who worked with the director on 'Elysium' and 'Chappie' - is expected to return.